24-28 February 1991

GROUND OFFENSIVE COMBAT

one mechanized infantry company team conducting mounted zone reconnaissance
seven kilometers forward of Phase Line OPUS; 2d Brigade has two mechanized
infantry company teams along Phase Line OPUS and Troop A, 4th Squadron, 4th
Cavalry (under brigade operational control) conducting mounted zone
reconnaissance out to ten kilometers forward of Phase Line OPUS and then
dropping back to hide positions seven kilometers north of the Phase Line; 197th
Infantry Brigade had two scout platoons and two mechanized infantry company
teams along Phase Line OPUS; they made no contact and during morning the line of
departure was advanced to Phase Line OPUS with the security zone extended out to
Phase Line COLT. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 24 Feb 91]

recross line of departure; land in Assembly Area WALNUT at 0013. [XVIII
Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals add that on return one of the
aircraft reported that it had been acquired for a three-second period by a radar
during the return trip]

(Tail # 929 with 2LT Gary Stethens and 1LT Michael Klee on board) at MT
098838. No injuries. [Also see 101st Airborne Division SITREP 200 (24 Feb 91)
which reports time as 0330 and that there were minor injuries and that aircraft
was total loss. XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals adds
information that the helicopter was from the target acquisition platoon (TARP)
of the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, that was attached to the division, and that
the helicopter was destroyed by a post-mishap fire; specifies that 2LT Stethens
who was the pilot suffered minor cuts and that 1LT Klee who was the field
artillery observer had third degree burns on his back; also notes that a
replacement OH-58D was issued to the unit from the corps reserve "float"
on the afternoon of the 24th]

0400 LTG Luck asserts control of the XVIII Airborne Corps close battle
from the Tactical Command Post.

has fired in support. [Also see 12th Aviation Brigade SITREPs, 24 and 25
Feb 91, which indicates that two of its OH-58D Kiowas conducted missions in the
division zone for the 18th despite weather problems; 12th Aviation Brigade
After-Action Report to V Corps, 9 Mar 91, says that Company D, 5th Battalion,
158th Aviation OH-58D aircraft maintained over fourteen hours of continuous
coverage forward of the 6th (French) Light Armored Division with armed escort by
French Gazelles, called for and adjusted artillery fires and close air support
including lasing targets for US Air Force A-10s that destroyed at least 8 tanks
and providing information that at least twice allowed the French commanders to
modify plans, and the 12th Aviation Brigade claims that the OH-58Ds captured 110
enemy prisoners of war; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals say
that at 0657 the 6th (French) Light Armored Division reported that the 18th
Field Artillery Brigade was firing]

0620 101st Airborne Division pathfinders cross line of

departure. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

0650 101st Airborne Division pathfinders are inserted.

[XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals which note that under
Operations Plan this was to have occurred at 0355]

Armored Division) reports capturing five prisoners of war, four AK-47 and 1
Dragunoff rifles, and one RPG-7.

0816 101st Airborne Division reports ten vehicles at MU

8583, and that A-10s have destroyed three of them. [XVIII Airborne Corps
Tactical Command Post Journals]

0840 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery begins displacing

forward.

0850 101st Airborne Division reports that contact has been

made with Iraqi forces at MU294773 and that the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne
Division command post is located at MU 938687. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical
Command Post Journals]

0852 Vanguard of 1st Spahis Regiment reaches LU 820420.

0900 101st Airborne Division reports that the 1st Brigade Command Post
is established at MU 938687 and that

a contact of unknown size has developed at MU 942773. [Also see 101st
Airborne Division SITREP 200 (24 Feb 91), which says that close air support
bombed MU 9180 resulting in over 300 prisoners including the battalion commander
of 1st Battalion, 82d Brigade, 49th Infantry Division; also that the division
Jump Command Post co-located with the brigade command post]

0910 ARCENT gives XVIII Airborne Corps a warning order to be prepared to
have the 24th Infantry Division and 3d

4th Battalion, 325th Infantry (2d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division) and 3d
Marine Infantry Regiment have taken some prisoners of war and enemy deserters.
Additionally reports that artillery raids have been conducted on three rivetted
tanks at MU 1217, three rivetted tanks at MU 1818, and infantry positions at MU
1321. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals renders this report
at 1000, adding that the 4th Dragoons Regiment and 3d Marine Infantry Regiment
are at MU 11161915 where they came under mortar fire that inflicted no
casualties, but giving the grid location for the first set of three revetted
tanks as MU 1317]

Officer) that it has been discovered by Bedouins and requests extraction.
[Also see XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 412 states that LRS at Objective RED,
without identifying which team, reported that suspected logistical base was
actually Bedouin camp]

ROCHAMBEAU and over 300 prisoners of war without any friendly casualties.
[Also see XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUMs 411 and 412 which gave initial estimate
of prisoners at 500, but revised downward to 300 as of 1415; XVIII Airborne
Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 180 (24 Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP,
24 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals specifies that
the event came at 1415, but that the report was not made until 1445]

which gives order of march as 2d, 1st, 3d Squadrons; XVIII Airborne Corps
Tactical Command Post SITREP 180 (24 Feb 91), which says 1500 and specifies that
they jumped off from Phase Line CANOE which was actually ten kilometers north of
the line of departure; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 24 Feb 91, says 1200Z]

1530 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery, conducts series of fire
missions in support of 2d Foreign Legion

advance to remain abreast of the 24th Infantry Division's 3d Battalion, 15th
Infantry; it had previously passed Phase Line CREEK. [Also see 3d Armored
Cavalry SITREP, 26 FEb 91, which additionally identifies right flank unit as VII
Corps' 2d Battalion, 70th Armor, 1st Armored Division, and that the regiment had
no contact all the way to Phase Line CHARGER where it shifted formation and
continued on to Phase Line RAM]

Aviation Brigade) is damaged in a hard landing in Assembly Area WALNUT (MT
74900252) after loosing vision during a sand storm. No injuries resulted.
Aircraft had been the trail escort in support of an extraction mission for the
Long Range Surveillance Detachment under the 519th Military Intelligence
Battalion. [Also see 12th Aviation Brigade After-Action Report to V Corps, 9
Mar 91 which says that crash occurred prior to crossing line of departure]

total of enemy prisoners of war has now reached between 800 and 1,200, and
that the numbers are slowing the division advance. [XVIII Airborne Corps
Tactical Command Post Journals]

1700 6th (French) Light Armored Division RED Tactical

Command Post arrives at LV 986457. [However XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical
Command Post Journals gives the location as LU 986454 and adds that: the 1st
Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment and 2d Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment are
moving on Objective CAJUN (MU 2585), the 1st Spahis Regiment is at MU 1466 and
will lead the attack on CAJUN, and that the division command post is not in
contact with the western axis of advance]

making contact. [12th Aviation Brigade SITREP, 24 Feb 91; 12th Aviation
Brigade After-Action Report to V Corps, 9 Mar 91, which says that the gunsight
video tapes were used by the regiment to conduct final planning and that the
aircraft went 75 kilometers deep]

---- 3d Armored Cavalry captures 80 prisoners of war without a fight at
NU 668105. [Also see XVIII Airborne

Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91), which says that regiment
took eight prisoners at NU 6111, without giving a time, as does XVIII Airborne
Corps SITREP, 25 FEb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals say
that the engaged unit was the 1st Squadron of the regiment, that the engagement
took place at NU 608105, that the prisoner count was eight, and that the
regiment itself was not in contact with the enemy]

EAGLE with the 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation, and a company from the 2d
Battalion, 227th Aviation, conducting interdiction forward of Phase Line VIKING;
relieved after daylight by two companies of the 2d Battalion, 229th Aviation; no
contact. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 201 (25 Feb 91)]

----- XVIII Airborne Corps Rear Command Post alternate

command post has two movement control teams in place at the junction of Main
Supply Routes TEXAS and OHIO. [XVIII Airborne Corps Rear Command Post SITREP,
25 Feb 91]

----- 16th Military Police Brigade reports that the 759th and 503d
Military Police Battalions are marshalled and

awaiting the execution order to cross the line of departure; that the 503d
has additionally processed approximately 700 enemy prisoners of war for
evacuation to theater control; and that the 160th Military Police Battalion
continues to provide battlefield circulation control at the Corps Marshalling
Area near Main Supply Route TEXAS. [16th Military Police Brigade SITREP 161 (25
Feb 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25
Feb 91, declares that TEXAS is secured and that the 759th Military Police
Battalion has assumed battlefield circulation control responsibilities]

resistance without suffering any casualties, supported by US Air Force
A--10s which scored four direct hits, and captured 31 enemy prisoners of war
(initially identified as being from the 49th Infantry Division); in process of
attack on this objective a long range surveillance detachment team is inserted
onto objective and recovered. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 25 Feb 91; XVIII
Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91), says secured at
0900 with 23 enemy prisoners of war]

see XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91), which
says that this is the time when the 1st and 2d Brigades of the division close
into Forward Operating Base COBRA; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 Feb 91, says
that 3d Brigade conducted air assault into SAND at 0916Z, and that the 1st and
2d Brigades completed movement into COBRA at 0720Z]

consists of brigade's anti-armor companies, all brigade wheeled vehicles,
and the 3d Battalion, 320th Field Artillery; it then starts ground movement to
Area of Operations EAGLE (NV 5847) to make contact with the brigade task force
there, although slowed by mud. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 201 (25 Feb 91)]

a medical clearing company for attachment to SOCCENT effective 1500Z on 27
February.

1100Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 62 to OPORD DESERT STORM

directs that Contingency Plan BLIER and the 82d Airborne Division's
supporting Contingency Plan MOSBY not be implemented, and directs the 82d
Airborne Division to return Task Force 159 to the control of the 18th Aviation
Brigade effective 1500Z on 25 February. [Note: Issued out of sequence.]

Artillery and 212th Field Artillery Brigade; Task Force 1-64 Armor engages
suspected battalion command post at NU 210310 with indirect fire and captures
about 50 enemy prisoners of war. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 25 Feb 91,
which does not give a time; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP
181 (25 Feb 91), which gives time as 1400 and says 100 enemy prisoners of war;
XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals specify that the objective
was siezed and reported at 1400, but that it was occupied beginning at 1330 and
that 100 enemy prisoners were captured, and that a confirming report was also
filed at 1501, and that the division reported that Main Supply Route GEORGIA was
cleared for traffic as far as Phase Line COLT]

following with a ground attack by the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 2d
Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment, and 1st Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment.
[Also see XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 181 (25 Feb 91) and
XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 25 FEb 91, which say that these elements attacked
from the west supported by the 11th Regiment of Marine Artillery, except for the
1st Reconnaissance Squadron with secured Objective BORDEAUX (MU 5901) as a
blocking position to the north, and that the 3d Regiment of Marine Infantry and
the 4th Regiment of Dragoons supported by the 18th Field Artillery Brigade
attacked from the south]

4th Dragoon Regiment is at Objective CHAMBORD (MU 5705), and that it has
captured multiple enemy prisoners of war and has taken out ten tanks, three
BMPs, fifteen trucks, and five mortars. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command
Post Journals]

4th Dragoon Regiment at MU 5273; 3d Marine Infantry Regiment at MU 5477; 2d
Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment at MU 5092; 1st Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment
at MU 5192; also reports that the commando battalion [C.R.A.P., actually a
company-sized element] has secured the logistical site at MU 6585 and that the
1st Spahis Regiment has secured Objective BORDEAUX (MV 5901) engaging three
tanks and destroying one of them, and that the regiment is not clearing the road
south of the intersection of Main Supply Routes VIRGINIA and TEXAS. [XVIII
Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

of the 24th Infantry Division; relieves the 101st Airborne Division of the
responsibility for providing a battalion task force as the Corps TCF effective
0600 on 26 February and directs it on order to conduct an air assault operation
to seize a forward operating base vicinity of Tallil Air Base (PV 0523).
Additionally tasks the 3d Armored Cavalry to occupy blocking positions at
Objective GRAY beginning at 0400 on 26 February and in conjunction with the 24th
Infantry Division to screen the corps flank from Phase Line LION to Phase Line
VIKING, and then in coordination with the 24th Infantry Division to occupy
Objective RED PRIME (PU 1758) and guard the right flank of the 24th Infantry
Division as it attacks to Objective GOLD while avoiding decisive engagement.
Additionally announces the change of the VII Corps-XVIII Airborne Corps
boundary, shifts to Phase Line JET (effective upon closure of the 82d Airborne
Division on Objective GRAY) the boundary between the 82d Airborne Division and
3d Armored Cavalry, and directs the 3d Armored Cavalry and 24th Infantry
Division to coordinate on adjusting their boundary. [Note: Issued out of
sequence.]

Infantry (24th Infantry Division) are killed and two wounded at NU 857337
when a grenade falls off a protective vest and explodes. [XVIII Airborne Corps
Tactical Command Post Journals also record this but without giving time]

placing the 12th Aviation Brigade under the operational control of the 101st
Airborne Division for the period from 25 February until the brigade closes into
Forward Operating Base COBRA, and directs the brigade to move to that location.

101, 102 and 103 have been secured respectively by the 197th Infantry
Brigade, 1st Brigade and 2d Brigade.

2400 24th Infantry Division reports "DONALD" (securing of

Objective RED). [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post Journals]

2400 New VII Corps/XVIII Airborne Corps boundary in effect.

----- 24th Infantry Division reports "TOM" (main supply route

has been cleared and marked in zone); state that it is known to be clear,
but are not sure that it has been marked properly. [XVIII Airborne Corps
Tactical Command Post Journals--without any time being given]

Supply Route TEXAS from Objective ROCHAMBEAU back to Attack Position WHEELER
with a strength in theater of 15,655; it intends to refuel during the night of
25/26 February at a laager site near Phase Line CALIFORNIA and then make contact
on 26 February with the 6th (French) Light Armored Division south of Objective
WHITE, eliminating the need to stop at Area of Operations SPRING LAKE and
allowing movement directly to Objective GREY. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 202
(25 Feb 91)]

----- 82d Airborne Division reports that the 1st Brigade and

one enemy prisoner of war team went forward during the day into Objective
ROCHAMBEAU to assume control of Iraqi prisoners, and that XVIII Airborne Corps
assets moved Iraqi prisoners rearward to the Corps Cage. [82d Airborne Division
SITREP 202 (25 Feb 91)]

Battalion is working on Main Supply Route GEORGIA; 52d Engineer Battalion
has Combat Trail YANKEE completed twenty kilometers north of the line of
departure; 62d Engineer Battalion has Main Supply Route MONTANA completed (six
lanes wide) to Main Supply Route OHIO and is starting on Main Supply Route
GEORGIA between Phase Lines CHARGER and RAM;and that the 844th Engineer
Battalion is completing 1st Support Command survivability missions and has Main
Supply Route GEORGIA completed (two lanes wide) from the line of departure to
Phase Line CHARGER. [20th Engineer Brigade SITREP, 25 Feb 91]

----- 937th Engineer Group reports that the 27th and 37th Engineer
Battalions are heading north on Main

support of 101st Airborne Division and 82d Airborne Division (Task Force
159). [18th Aviation Brigade SITREP, 25 Feb 91 also projecting that another 100
sorties will be flow in next 24 hours to Forward Operating Base COBRA, 3 to
support the 507th Support Group, 5 to support the 12th Aviation Brigade, and an
additional 5 CH-47Ds will be prepositioned at Rafha to support the 82d Airborne
Division]

26 February (C+203; D+40; G+2)

----- Logistical Base OSCAR deleted from plan; assets programmed for it
will divert to Logistical Base

the line of departure to establish a communications network in the vicinity
of Objective BROWN and Logistical Base ROMEO. [35th Signal Brigade SITREP, 26
Feb 91]

----- 502d Finance Support Unit providing finance support to 9,000
prisoners of war in the Enemy Prisoner of

War Camp. [18th Finance Group SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

0128 SCUD is launched from vicinity of Iranian border, impacting 40
miles off the east coast of Doha.

0100Z XVIII Airborne Corps relieves 101st Airborne Division

of responsibility to provide a battalion task force as the corps Tactical
Combat Force because the determination was made that no Level III threat
existed. [Also see 101st Airborne Division SITREP 202 (26 Feb 91), which
identifies battalion at 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry, and states that bad weather
prevented its movement]

0430 82d Airborne Division begins movement north on Main Supply Route
TEXAS and then east on Main Supply

Route VIRGINIA as road march to Objective GREY. [XVIII Airborne Corps
Tactical Command Post SITREP 182 (26 Feb 91); 82d Airborne Division SITREP 206
(26 Feb 91) which also specifies that the 3d Brigade will make the movement to
GREY by air assault on the morning of 27 Feb, that the division aggregate
strength is 15,655, and that the division is planning to transfer operational
control (OPCON) of the 1st Brigade to the 24th Infantry Division]

Battalion, 319th Field Artillery in support of the 1st Brigade is all
located at MU 128192; 2d Battalion, 319th Field Artillery in support of the 2d
Brigade has its Tactical Operations Center at LT 86149469, Battery A at LT
82459698, Battery B at LT 93729195, Battery C at LT 85719676, its radar at LT
85619433, and its trains at LT 76818521; and 1st Battalion, 319th Field
Artillery in support of the 3d Brigade has its Tactical Operations Center at LT
467602, Battery A at LT 534578, Battery B at LT 460606, Battery C at LT 535603,
its radar at LT 467606. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 200 (23 Feb 91)]

Corps G-4 reports that 1st Support Command has decided to bypass Logistical
Base OSCAR and concentrate all resources instead at Logistical Base ROMEO.

0957 82d Airborne Division reports that its Main Command

Post is moving and that command and control of the division has been passed
to the Rear Command Post; states that it has made contact along the 72
North-South line on Main Supply Route VIRGINIA. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical
Command Post Journals]

1000 12th Aviation Brigade ground convoy consisting of tactical air
control and forward arming and

17th Cavalry had established contact with the 101st Airborne Division and is
moving east on Main Supply Route VIRGINIA. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 202
(26 Feb 91), says that 1st Brigade, 101st, made contact at 1018 and assisted
82d's movement along VIRGINIA]

control (TACON) of the 6th (French) Light Armored Division back to the
control of the 82d Airborne Division. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 203 (26 Feb
91)]

0906Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 64 to OPORD DESERT STORM

places the 12th Aviation Brigade under the operational control of the 101st
Airborne Division effective 1000 on 26 February; places the 3d Armored Cavalry
under the operational control of the 24th Infantry Division effective 1200 on 26
February; releases the 2d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division from the operational
control of the 6th (French) Light Armored Division effective 1200 on 26
February; directs the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery to release the team from
the 12th Aviation Brigade from operational control effective 1200 on 26
February; and directs the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery to detach one towed
155mm howitzer field artillery battalion each for attachment to the 82d and
101st Airborne Divisions effective 1200 on 26 February. Additionally directs
the 24th Infantry Division to attack across Phase Line VIKING at 1400 on 26
February to seize Objective GOLD and the 101st Airborne Division to attack not
later than 0800 on 27 February to seize a forward operating base in the vicinity
of Tallil Air Base. Additionally changes the XVIII Airborne Corps Fire Support
Coordination Line to Phase Line RIPPER (which is defined) and makes the on order
boundary between the 6th (French) Light Armored Division and the 101st Airborne
Division effective at 1500 on 26 February. [Note: Issued out of sequence.]
[Also see 12th Aviation Brigade SITREP, 26 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps
Tactical Command Post SITREP 182 (26 Feb 91); and XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP,
26 Feb 91, which identifies further that 1st Battalion (155mm towed), 39th Field
Artillery, was attached to the 82d Airborne Division and the 5th Battalion
(155mm towed), 8th Field Artillery, to the 101st Airborne Division]

tasks the 6th (French) Light Armored Division to screen the corps western
flank from the line of departure (border) to Phase Line RIPPER. Effective 0600
on 27 February is also changes the corps rear boundary to Phase Line RAM, makes
Main Supply Route GEORGIA a corps main supply route, and amplifies the trace of
the XVIII Airborne Corps Fire Support Coordination Line set in FRAGO 64.

1900 24th Infantry Division initiates attack on Objective

GOLD. [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 416 which assesses forces on
Objectives GOLD and ORANGE as belonging to the 49th Infantry Division]

2300 24th Infantry Division reports clearing Objective GOLD, but that
area is not yet secured. [Also see 24th

Infantry Division SITREP, 27 Feb 91, which states that at 2300 the 1st
Brigade cleared and secured Battle Position 102 (PU 3895) with an orientation to
the east, and that 2d Brigade secured Battle Position 103 (PU 2380) and began
preparations for attack on Objective ORANGE, and 197th Infantry Brigade secured
Battle Position 101 (PU 2010) with orientation to the northwest; XVIII Airborne
Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91), states that Objective GOLD
was secured at 2400 when 197th Infantry Brigade completed it portion of the
action and provided the grid locations and orientations noted above and
estimated battle damage of almost 200 enemy prisoners of war, 72 trucks, and an
ammunition bunker]

2400 Iraqi traffic flow shifts west and north over the causeway bridge
at 3045N 04718E; bridge

the capture of one 82mm mortar, and the Iraqi abandonment of an additional
seven trucks. [XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 416]

----- 265th Engineer Group reports that 46th Engineer

Battalion has one lane of Main Supply Route GEORGIA completed from Phase
Line CHARGER to Phase Line RAM; 52d Engineer Battalion has Combat Trail YANKEE
completed to CHARGER; 62d Engineer Battalion has one lane of GEORGIA completed
from RAM to Logistical Base ROMEO; group begins work on Main Supply Route
VIRGINIA. [20th Engineer Brigade SITREP, 26 Feb 91]

0200 XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 71 to OPORD DESERT STORM effective at
0300Z on 27 February extends the area

of operations of the 6th (French) Light Armored Division to cover from Phase
Line DOLPHIN to the corps western boundary and from the line of departure to
Phase Line RIPPER; concurrently defines the corps rear boundary as being bounded
on the north by Phase Line RAM and on the west by Phase Line DOLPHIN; and
corrects the trace of Phase Line STRIKER set forth in Contingency Plan RIDGWAY.
[Note: Issued 2300Z on 26 February.] [Also see XVIII Airborne Corps
Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91)]

0645 XVIII Airborne Corps G-3 [COL Akers] approves a change in the
boundary between the 24th Infantry and

101st Airborne Divisions to allow the 24th (which was already delivering
MLRS fires) to order the 197th Infantry Brigade to attack Tallil Air Base.
[Also see XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91),
which says that change was approved at 0630 to place Air Base in the 24th
Infantry Division's zone, allowing it to immediately engage the base with
long-range artillery fires]

91, which says that AH-64 support during attack on ORANGE accounted for one
tank, two MTLBs, one BDRM, one artillery piece, six trucks, two fuel trucks, and
ten enemy killed in action; XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP
183 (27 Feb 91), says that at 0715 the division's 1st and 2d Brigades
encountered light resistance from infantry bunkers at ORANGE and destroyed four
towed artillery pieces, fourteen supply trucks, two fuel trucks, one helicopter
and one fixed wing airplane]

Airborne Corps INTSUM 417 which says that site PV 203027, and that some of
the prisoners were in Republican Guard Forces Command and Special Forces
uniforms, but that most claim to have belonged to an antitank unit]

mission to defend in zone to secure the corps lines of communications,
adjusts the corps northern boundary and specifies that it is the northern XVIII
Airborne Corps Fire Support Coordination Line, and establishes Phase Line CRUSH
as the XVIII Airborne Corps Forward (or eastern) Fire Support Coordination Line.

initiates clearing operations at Tallil Air Base with two company teams. No
casualties are incurred while many prisoners are taken and enemy equipment is
destroyed (five MiG-29s [?], one helicopter, one T-55 tank, four ZPUs, and two
ZSUs). [Also see 24th Infantry Division SITREP, 27 Feb 91, which states that
Tallil neutralized by direct fires and artillery, and implies that the two
brigade wounded in action this day were incurred here; XVIII Airborne Corps
Tactical Command Post SITREP 183 (27 Feb 91)]

1400 2d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, moves to Battle Position 102 from its
left flank screening positions between

Battalion, 319th Field Artillery has Battery A at LT 534578, Battery B at LT
460606, Battery C at LT 535603, its radar at LT 467606, and its Tactical
Operations Center at LT 467602; 2d Battalion, 319th Field Artillery all at MU
181297; and 3d Battalion, 319th Field Artillery all at MU 128192. During the
ground offensive operations so far one M-102 howitzer in the 1st Battalion has
been lost by a broken base plate and one in the 3d Battalion because of a
cracked axel. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 204 (27 Feb 91)]

20003d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division closes into Objective

GREY. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 204 (27 Feb 91)]

1830Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 74 to OPORD DESERT STORM rescinds FRAGO 73.
It also establishes (and defines) as "on order" XVIII Airborne Corps
Fire Support Coordination Lines ALMOST and FINAL; assigns battlefield
coordination control responsibilities for Main Supply Routes TEXAS and VIRGINIA
to the 16th Military Police Brigade effective immediately; and tasks the 82d
Airborne Division with the responsibility for clearing enemy forces from Area of
Operations BRAGG (which is defined) and for destroying all enemy equipment there
beginning not later than 1000 on 28 February. Additionally directs the 101st
Airborne Division to release one attack helicopter battalion to the operational
control of the 24th Infantry Division effective 2000 on 27 February.

gives the commander's concept for defensive and security operations in
sector, but directs the XVIII Airborne Corps to be prepared to resumes offensive
operations. Additionally sets forth rules of engagement to be followed during
the cease fire. [Note: Issued out of sequence.]

into its Phase IIIC locations, with the 3d Brigade completing its airlift
from Rafha throughout the day; division strength is 15,658 and it plans to begin
moving at 0400 on 28 February to clear Area of Operations BRAGG in sector. [82d
Airborne Division SITREP 204 (27 Feb 91)]

---- 101st Airborne Division engages series of moving trucks at NV 632464
and NV 572421 resulting in total of four enemy killed, six prisoners of war, and
the capture of two mortars. [XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 417]

---- 1st Support Command reports that the 316th and 2221st Quartermaster
Companies have arrived in Logistical Base ROMEO and are setting up a fuel point;
other units closing into ROMEO include elements of the 101st Support Group and
the Logistical Task Force of the 46th Support Group. [1st Support Command
SITREP 209 (27 Feb 91)]

---- 1st Support Command reports that two MEDEVAC helicopters from the
431st Medical Detachment departed for Forward Operating Base #1 to support the
forward surgical team of the 5th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital and that three
from the 347th Medical Detachment had departed for Logistical Base ROMEO to
support the 28th Combat Support Hospital. [1st Support Command SITREP 210 (28
Feb 91)]

Field Artillery Brigade (with an on-order mission to provide General Support
[Reinforcing] fires to 24th Infantry Division) is moving from Area of Operations
TEAK to the vicinity of Objectives PURPLE and TIM and is fully operational in
zone. [XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery SITREP, 28 Feb 91; XVIII Airborne Corps
SITREP, 28 Feb 91]

Battalion, 27th Field Artillery, attached to the 18th Field Artillery
Brigade but charged with the mission of providing General Support (Reinforcing)
fires to the 24th Infantry Division, moved from the French area of operations to
PU 819701 and fired seven ATACMS rounds in support of the division's deep
operations. [XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery SITREP, 28 Feb 91]

Military Police Battalion is performing battlefield circulation control on
Main Supply Routes VIRGINIA and TEXAS; that the 503d Military Police Battalion
is moving its enemy prisoner of war operations to Logistical Base ROMEO and that
it has moved 550 prisoners to the Theater Cage; that the 519th Military Police
Battalion is performing battlefield circulation control on Main Supply Routes
OHIO and GEORGIA (to Phase Line RAM) and that it has escorted 64 prisoners to
the Theater Cage; and that the 160th Military Police Battalion is performing
battlefield circulation control on Main Supply Routes OHIO, TEXAS and DODGE, as
well as in the Corps Marshalling Area, and that it has taken over the corps
temporary enemy prisoner of war facility at Rafha. [16th Military Police
Brigade SITREP 164 (28 Feb 91)]

0515 ARCENT FRAGO 68 directs attacks to continue until 0800C at which time
a cease-fire will begin.

0320Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO 78 to OPORD DESERT STORM announces that a
cease-fire will begin at 0500Z on 28 February, but specifies that units are to
continue offensive operations to destroy enemy armored vehicles with a maximum
use of AH-64 helicopters and Air Force aircraft. Additionally specifies that
the cease fire does not prohibit the destruction of bypassed equipment and
facilities. Also directs a maximum effort to be made in refitting the force and
planning for on order offensive operations after the cease fire.

1014 3d Armored Cavalry scouts identify one T-55 tank, one multiple rocket
launcher and dismounted infantry; when elements of the 2d Squadron come under
fire from a bunker complex at QU 0163 they attack. By the time that the
position was consolidated at 1300 150 enemy were captured, a considerable amount
of equipment captured, and four ZSU 23-4s and five T-55 tanks destroyed. [Also
see XVIII Airborne Corps INTSUM 419 which adds that were searching for downed
helicopter when made contact with estimated company of T-55 tanks at QU 158837;
3d Armored Cavalry SITREP, 28 Feb 91, says that 2d Squadron made contact while
screening to east of recovery operation at PU 9664 from tank company and
remnants of artillery battalion at airfield at QU 0260; by the time clearing was
completed at 1514 the destruction was eleven T-55s, 17 artillery pieces, 7
ZSU-23-4, 9 air defense artillery weapons, and 165 prisoners of war; regimental
commander states will need an engineer battalion just to destroy captured
equipment]

1050 24th Infantry Division elements take incoming artillery fire from two
different directions an respond with counterbattery fire.

Airborne Division for the on-order release of the 12th Aviation Brigade from
operational control to allow it to displace to Assembly Area SPRUCE, and for the
82d and 101st Airborne Divisions to displace one brigade each to Assembly Areas
PEAR and PLUM (respectively) with anticipated execution on 2 March.